Poland travel guide (Europe)

Geographically, Poland is divided into several areas: the Baltic Sea coast extending from the Bay of Pomerania to the Bay of Gdansk and the lake district formed during the ice age (Masuria, Pomerania and greater Poland) of the central European plains. There are also the landscapes of Silesia and Masovia formed by the glacial valleys of the largest rivers, and the central mountain ranges of the Cracow-Częstochowa Jura ( the Holy Cross Mountains , the Beskids (Bieszczady ), Sub-Carpathians and the Sudetes. The highest elevation is in the Tatra, a high mountain range. There are 21 mountains here with an altitude of over 2,000 m (6561 ft), the highest of these is the Rysy (2,499 m; 8,198 ft ) with the glacial lake Morskie Oko. This is followed by the Beskidy mountains, and Babia Góra (1.725 m) and the snow peak (1.602 m) in the Sudetes. The lowest point of Poland is by Raczki Elblaskie near Elbing in the Vistula delta, and lies at 2 m below sea level.

As a result of its extensive lake district, Poland is one of the countries in Europe with the largest number of lakes. The largest of these is the Śniardwy and the Mamry in Masuria and Jezioro Łebsko and Jezioro Drawsko in Pommerania. The longest polish rivers are the Vistula, Oder, Warthe and the Bug.

Poland has a temperate climate becoming gradually more continental towards the south and south-east.

There are many spa towns and holiday resorts in the south of Poland, in the Ermland-Masures, in Pommerania, Kujawien-Pommerania, Lesser Poland, Sub-Carpathians and Lower Silesia .

Facilities for water sports can be found at the Baltic Sea, in the lake district and several mountain rivers, above all Dunajec, San, Poprad, Bobr and the reservoirs. The mountain regions of Tatry, Beskidy, the Carpathians, the Holy Cross Mountains and the Sudetes are ideal for skiing and hiking. Zakopane is considered the winter capital of Poland.

Warsaw (polish: Warszawa) is the capital and also the largest city in Poland. It is located on the Vistula (Wisła) in the Masovian Voivodship. The old city centre is on the western bank of the Vistula on the Skarpa Wiślana. In the area around Warsaw, the Vistula is passable by boat being the reason for the existence of the inland harbour in the city, the Port Praski, on the eastern bank of the Vistula. As Warsaw is located on the border of maritime and continental climates, summers can be very hot and winters cold.

Warsaw is of great political and cultural significance, as it is one of the most important trade centres of central and eastern Europe. There are numerous universities, theatres, museums, and listed buildings in the city. The most significant airport, Frédéric-Chopin-Airport , is in Warsaw. Places of interest in Warsaw include St. John’s Cathedral, the Ex-PZPR buildings and the golden Terraces. Due to the tragic history of the city, there are many memorials in Warsaw as for example the memorial of the Warsaw Ghetto, the Citadel and Pawlak.

There are also several theatres and museums in Warsaw such as the state opera Teatr Wielki, the centre of Contemporary Art, the Museum of the Polish Army, and the national museum (Muzeum Narodowe). The historical and geographical centre of the old town of Warsaw is the grand market place (Rynek), in the centre of which is the sculpture of the mermaid Syrenka. Warsaw’s old town was designated World Cultural Heritage site by UNESCO. The new town is located north of the old town. To be found here is St. Jacek’s church with its adjoining monastery and the Palais Sapieha as well as the Ulica Freta road where the house in which Marie Curie was born is to be found. There are also numerous other palaces and parks.